Moving to Bulgaria interests many immigrants seeking to improve their quality of life and settle in a country with a favorable climate. Other advantages of the country include its participation in the European Union and its recent accession to the Schengen zone. At the same time, despite belonging to these associations, the cost of living in the country is much lower compared to Western Europe.

Also, many foreign citizens, deciding to move to Bulgaria, are guided by the desire to start a business there and have prospects for its expansion into the territory of the European Union. You can find out more detailed information about the possibilities of immigration to Bulgaria on legal grounds, including relocation programs, further in the article, as well as at a free consultation with the specialists of the company. International law specialists will analyze your situation and help you to choose the best way of immigration in a short time and with minimum expenses.

Reasons to choose Bulgaria for relocation

Emigration from other countries to Bulgaria is popular because of the country’s favorable climate, abundance of beaches on the sea coast, picturesque nature, as well as due to the opportunity to obtain in this way a number of privileges, namely:

• the opportunity to be employed on the territory of the country and the EU;
• obtaining in the future the citizenship of Bulgaria and, accordingly, of the European Union;
• access to quality medical care under a unified medical insurance, which is valid throughout the entire territory of the association;
• access to higher education in prestigious local and European universities;
• possibility to optimize expenses due to the loyal taxation system in Bulgaria (from 10% of income);
• availability of a simplified immigration program, allowing to become a citizen of the country in a shortened period of time;
• the possibility to move freely within the EU and Schengen area if you have a permanent place of residence in Bulgaria;
• ease of assimilation, as the culture of the Bulgarian people is very close to immigrants of Slavic origin.

It is worth noting that the economy of the state demonstrates stable but unhurried growth, with agriculture, IT, tourism and industry being the main sectors of development. The standard of living of the population is quite high with lower prices for food, rent and transportation services compared to Western Europe.

Stages of moving to Bulgaria

For those who plan to move to Bulgaria for permanent residence, many immigrants recommend to start with a short familiarization trip to really assess the local conditions, all the pros and cons. When the decision to change the place of residence is made, it is important to carefully prepare and follow all procedures aimed at obtaining your legal right to stay in the country. Further we will analyze in more detail all the stages of immigration to Bulgaria and their nuances.

Choosing the basis for moving

Successful immigration to Bulgaria is possible with the right choice of grounds for moving – this will allow you to obtain the right to temporary stay in the country. Permission must be periodically renewed, and after 5 years you can become a citizen of the state. In 2025, you can move to Bulgaria for one of the reasons specified in the legislation:

• educational attainment;
• employment;
• business immigration;
• family reunification;
• investment;
• marriage to a Bulgarian citizen;
• retirement;
• repatriation.

The Aliens Act of the Republic of Bulgaria also provides for other grounds for immigration to the country – these include long-term medical treatment, freelance professional activity, refugee status and special services to the state. In order to choose the right grounds for moving and effectively plan your actions, it is worth contacting specialized experts and get help in emigrating from your native country.

Preparation of necessary documents

To successfully go through the procedure of registration of a residence permit in Bulgaria, it is extremely important to submit a complete and comprehensive dossier – the basic list of documents includes:

• D visa (if applicable);
• passport;
• health insurance policy;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• certificate of insured housing;
• certificate of income or bank account statement;
• a receipt for payment of the state duty.

It is also necessary to attach additional documents confirming the existence of legal grounds for a long stay in the country (depending on your individual circumstances):

• contract with the employer, work permit from the Bulgarian Employment Agency;
• statutory documents of the company, documentary proof of investments, business plan;
• marriage certificate with a Bulgarian citizen;
• documentary proof of money investments in real estate or disadvantaged areas according to the requirements of the legislation;
• bank account statement confirming sufficient funds for living in Bulgaria and a certificate or other document confirming receipt of pension;
• certificates and statements proving kinship with citizens or residents of the country;
• a document of enrollment in an educational institution and a receipt for payment of tuition fees;
• the applicant’s birth certificate confirming his/her Bulgarian origin (in the absence of this document, the certificate of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad is used).

All documents issued by other states must be translated into Bulgarian and notarized. It is important to remember that the completeness of your dossier determines the term of consideration of the application for residence permit.

Submitting an application for a residence permit

The Immigration Division of the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria is responsible for regulating the stay of foreigners on the territory of the Republic. In order to apply for a residence permit you need to apply to the territorial office of the Migration Service, where you should fill out an application and attach the prepared package of documents to it.

Cost and terms of consideration of the request

As a rule, the application is considered within 14 days from the date of submission, but if additional documents are required, the term can be extended by a month. The administrative fee for the service is about 5 EUR. In case of granting a residence permit for up to 6 months the card will cost 102 EUR, in case of granting a permit for a year the cost is higher – almost 256 EUR.

The state fee is not charged for applicants who are granted a residence permit under the repatriation procedure, and the cost of the card for them is about 77 EUR. The exemption also applies to family members of a foreigner who has a long-term or permanent residence permit in the country or is under international protection.

Visa and migration peculiarities

In order to move to Bulgaria, you need to have the right to arrive in the country without a visa or to obtain a permit. To apply for a visa, you need to apply to the consulate, fill out an application form and provide a package of documents confirming the purpose of the trip.

What types of visas are available?

According to article 9 of the law “On foreigners”, citizens of states that do not have a visa-free regime with the republic can obtain one of the following types of visas:

• airport transit (type A) – allows the foreigner to stay in the international zone and does not provide for admission to the territory of Bulgaria;
• short-term stay (type C) – issued to applicants planning to travel through Bulgaria or to stay in the country for up to 90 days within a 180-day period;
• long-term residence (type D) – relocation visas that entitle you to stay in Bulgaria for up to 6 months, including for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit or permanent residence permit.

You can request an entry permit online, but you will need to visit a diplomatic mission to confirm your personal data and undergo fingerprinting when obtaining a type D visa. You will also need to pay a visa fee of 90 to 200 EUR (depending on the type of permit).

Procedure for obtaining a residence permit

A valid visa is a mandatory document to be submitted to the Migration Service when applying for a residence permit in the country. The law regulates 4 types of residence permits:

• short-term – up to 90 days within a 180-day period from the date of entry into the country;
• temporary – the maximum continuous period of residence is 12 months;
• long-term – valid for 5 years with the possibility of extension;
• permanent – issued for an unlimited period of time.

To apply for a residence permit in Bulgaria, it is necessary to apply in person to the Migration Department or its regional office under the Ministry of Interior, fill out an application form and submit a dossier. Then it is necessary to wait for a decision on granting a residence permit.

Conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit

After obtaining a temporary residence permit, non-EU citizens have the right to apply for a permanent or long-term residence permit. The former is valid indefinitely, the latter is valid for 5 years and can be extended. To obtain a permanent residence permit it is also necessary to apply to the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Only applicants who entered the country on a long-term visa type D have the right to obtain a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria. Foreign refugees and those who are granted asylum can only obtain a permit for up to 5 years.

Conditions for obtaining citizenship

It is possible to obtain Bulgarian citizenship by birth, naturalization and descent (repatriation). Each of the mentioned ways of moving has its own conditions and specifics:

• Birth.
  A child born on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria automatically becomes a citizen of the country, but only if he/she has not acquired the status in another state by descent. Also, a Bulgarian passport can be issued to children found on the territory of the country if their parents are unknown.
• Naturalization.
  The standard and longest method of obtaining a Bulgarian passport, requiring foreign applicants to fulfill a number of conditions – the main one being residence in the country on a permanent/long-term residence permit for the last 5 years. In addition, it is necessary to have a stable income, speak the state language and renounce the original citizenship. The period of compulsory residence may be reduced to 3 years for spouses of Bulgarian citizens who have been legally married for at least 3 years and applicants born in the Republic. The residency requirement is also reduced for applicants who have obtained a permanent or long-term residence permit before reaching the age of majority.
• Repatriation.
  The Citizenship Act provides for the granting of status to applicants whose relatives up to and including the third degree are of Bulgarian origin. The list of requirements for repatriates is significantly shorter than the standard one – they do not need to reside in the territory of the state for 5 years, have a stable income, speak Bulgarian language and refuse the previous passport.

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Life in Bulgaria: reviews and practical information

Reading reviews of foreigners who have moved, it is quite common to find opinions that the best cities in Bulgaria to move to are Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas. Their popularity is based, as a rule, on the standard of living of the population, prospects for business and career, as well as on the features of nature, climate and geographical location.

Sofia

The capital and a major metropolis with a population of over one million people. Sofia is located in the western part of the country and is nestled among the mountains. The city is considered to be the most suitable for business and employment. The level of labor remuneration here is slightly higher than the national average – the salary of a resident of Sofia is about 1 350 EUR, while one person spends approximately 674 EUR per month on living expenses. Below are the average costs of the main items of expenditure in Sofia:

Sofia has 35 higher education institutions of various kinds, including prestigious universities that occupy top positions in the world ranking. The city’s healthcare system is well developed, with numerous medical centers for diagnostics and physical rehabilitation, hospitals, hospices, and highly specialized clinics.

Plovdiv

An ancient large city with a population of over 340 thousand people. Plovdiv is considered one of the most important transportation hubs in Bulgaria and is also famous for its unique architecture and rich cultural heritage. The average monthly salary in the city is 883 EUR, with one person spending approximately 559 EUR per month on living expenses. The table below summarizes the figures for the main items of expenditure of the local population:

Plovdiv has 9 institutions of higher education, which train specialists in the fields of food technology, agribusiness, medicine, economics and art. The city also has a large number of medical diagnostic centers, clinics of narrow and multidisciplinary direction.

Burgas

The city is located in the southwestern part of the country on the Black Sea coast, with a population of about 210 thousand people. Burgas has well developed industry, transportation and tourism – locals and immigrants consider it an ideal place to live, work and rest. The average salary here reaches 817 EUR, with monthly expenses of one person amounting to 577 EUR. Below are the prices for accommodation, transportation and food in Burgas:

There are 2 higher educational institutions in the city – Burgas Free University and the University “Professor Assen Zlatarov”. State medical institutions, including the Comprehensive Oncology Center, as well as numerous diagnostic and consulting centers operate in the city.

Advantages and disadvantages of moving to Bulgaria

Citizens of other countries immigrate to the republic mainly because of the lower cost of living compared to other EU countries. Immigrants decide to move to Bulgaria because they want to stay within the EU but reduce their monthly expenses. Other advantages of moving to the republic include the following:

• lower costs of starting and running a business compared to other EU countries;
• the opportunity to lead a quiet and measured lifestyle;
• easy issuance of temporary and permanent residence permits;
• favorable climate and favorable geographical location of the country.

Moving to Bulgaria is also associated with certain disadvantages, for example:

• the level of income in the country is lower compared to the states of Western Europe;
• the procedure of registration of documents is associated with lengthy bureaucratic processes;
• for more comfortable living and citizenship by naturalization it is necessary to learn the national language.

How to simplify the process of immigration to Bulgaria

Bulgarian legislation provides immigrants with a wide range of opportunities for obtaining a residence permit and moving to the country. The procedure of registration of residence permit itself takes a lot of time, and the status itself does not provide the full scope of rights and opportunities that citizens of the republic have.

However, there are simplified emigration programs that allow you to quickly and easily leave your native country to the EU without knowing the language and meeting the residency requirement. In order not to spend a lot of time and effort on naturalization, you can use the procedure of citizenship restoration. Since over the last 200 years there has been an active redistribution of territories in Europe accompanied by intensive migration processes, most people can find roots in their ancestry that allow them to move to Bulgaria through the repatriation procedure.

To find out whether you have an opportunity to obtain a Bulgarian passport under the simplified program, make an appointment for a free consultation with the company’s specialists. Experienced lawyers will provide you with detailed information about the available methods of immigration to the Republic, choose the most suitable option, provide full support and help you obtain Bulgarian citizenship in 4-12 months.